North Carolina is the nation's second-largest hog producer.

More than 130,000 hog producers went out of business, according to Agriculture Department statistics, leaving only 98,000 in 1999.

Plans to Double Operations "How would you like to become the largest hog producers in the world?"

National Farms faces some formidable competition in its quest to become the world's largest hog producer.

Many politicians in Missouri and other states have labeled the big hog producers as threats to the environment and the rural economy.

But he said the big-scale hog producers were helping people survive in the countryside.

A second major hog producer, Premium Standard Farms, joined the agreement.

That gives hog producers hopes of tipping the balance in their favor once consumers know the truth about pork.

Besides the smell and the environmental impact, the big farms are driving small hog producers out of business.

The award subsequently "tickled the fancy of hog producers across the country."